Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I have made it through my very first days as a 3rd grade teacher...and I am pooped! The tininess of my students amazes me. Moving from 4th grade to 3rd grade is a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be. I am having to make sure I give instructions in smaller chunks and realizing how much less independent they are. I am learning a lot though! As I have mentioned before, my state has adopted and adapted the Math Common Core Standards. My county has started the journey of training us in AMSTI (Alabama Math Science Technology Initiative) in math. We got the Pearson Investigation Units and a whole lot of manipulatives. I think it is always important to give kids time to play with new materials before you try to teach them how to use them as learning tools. So today that is what we did. I set up a few different stations around the room (unifix cubes, pattern blocks, small white boards, etc) and broke my kids into groups so they could explore. We also practiced our station behavior before and during our exploration time. We practiced walking from station to station silently, cleaning up after ourselves, working together, and staying on task. After stations were all cleaned up, I asked the students to write in their math journals about how we behave and move during stations. Students were then encouraged to share their writing under our Elmo (document camera). I think this was a very valuable way to spend our time today. I took some pictures of the kiddos exploring the materials and reading today.

Friday, August 17, 2012

I have been very busy the past few weeks finishing up my classroom, attending workshops, and trying to enjoy the last bit of summer. School starts on Monday and I am super excited and stressed. I met some of my new kiddos at Meet the Teacher Night last night. Third graders are a lot smaller than what I am used to! I think I have a great group and some very supportive parents! Here are the last pictures from my classroom makeover.

My super cute door. Thanks to Brooke and Kim for helping me!

My "Classicot Award" Wall that I got from One Extra Degree

Inside the cabinet I have stored copy paper, lined paper, extra textbooks and extra workbooks. There is also a built in filing cabinet inside. In one drawer, I will keep the student's graded papers after they have been signed. I will keep graded benchmark assessments in the second drawer.

This is the back wall of the room. I have my calendar up. The empty bulletin board will be for novel study and author study. I plan on putting my reading vocab words and concept webs on the white board as well.

This is my library center. I have baskets for different genres, authors, and series. Each book is labeled for AR. Every book also has a dot sticker on the front that matches the basket in which the book belongs. I got my super cute genre posters from One Extra Degree (can you tell I buy all her stuff or what?!)

This is a big view of this wall. I have shelves running along almost the entire wall. I have picture books in baskets on these shelves as well as baskets of clipboards and dry erase boards. Their textbooks are currently stored there until I pass them out next week. I also have a lot of the math manipulatives stored in plastic bins as well.

A close up of my math journal basket. I have one just like it for reading journals.

A close-up. Their book boxes are on this counter. I have students turn in their work in the drawers. I have one labeled for centers, one for math, and one for science and social studies.

The front of my classroom. My math wall is still a work in progress! I have a little desk where my laptop and Elmo are located. I love that desk because I can store my teacher editions that I am currently using and any over head manipulatives right there.

Friday, August 3, 2012

I went out to school yesterday and did some work in my classroom. I put up some posters, sorted reading materials and new math materials, and put together my new book boxes. I am feeling very overwhelmed by all I have left to do (label all materials with student names, decorate my classroom door, label all my books for AR, copy back to school packets, and plan my first week). I am trying to take it a little at a time but I want it done!! Ah!! Anyways- pictures!

I put up my craft from Monday Made It!

The Class Leaders are our classroom jobs. The jobs are on branches and the kids' names will be on colorful owls!

Another shot of my small group area

Library center

Classicott awards (One Extra Degree on TpT!)

My bed is here! Now I just need stuff to put on my pretty new painted walls!

This is my 6th year teaching. I taught fourth grade for 4 years before moving to third grade. I am a National Board Certified Teacher. My kids teach me so much every day and I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn from them.